Duplex container



July 7, 1936. w. A. RINGLER DUPLEX CONTAINER Filed Sept. 14, 1932 lNVEN TOR. WW0 ATTORNEY.

' Patented July 7, 1936 DUPLEX CONTAINER William A. Ringler,

Wayne, Pa., assignor to Carton Container Company,

Philadelphia, Pa., a

7 Claims.

One object of my present invention is to devise a novel construction and arrangement of a duplex container which will provide two separate compartments in which the articles can be placed and which when the cover is applied to the package will form a fiat package.

A further object is to provide a novel duplex container wherein two open ended boxes are provided with division flaps between them which form a division between the boxes and a weakened line so that when the contents of one box is used up it can be torn off and a locking flap will be provided to close the open end of the box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel duplex container which can be readily opened by bending opposite portions of the package in opposite directions to form two open ended boxes with a double flap forming a continuation of side walls of the boxes.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel duplex package, the cover of which retains the package in sealed condition, with each of the boxes which form the package provided with a flap adapted to be bent outwardly to provide ready access to the articles contained within the boxes.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel blank from which the boxes can be economically manufactured.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention comprehends a novel duplex container.

It further comprehends a novel duplex container which can be formed from a blank of sheet material which, when folded, will provide two open ended boxes with division flaps between them; the boxes being covered with sheet material having weakened lines whereby when the boxes are bent in opposite direction the wrapper will be broken and access will be provided to the two boxes.

can be formed from a single sheet of material to provide two open ended boxes with connected flaps when brought together, theboxes being covered with a wrapper in any desired or conventional' manner to maintain the boxes in alignment, with their open ends facing each other and separated by flaps.

Other novel features of construction and advantage will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing a .typicalembodiment of it, which, in practice, will give reliable and satisfactory results. It is, how- It further comprehends a novel package which that this and that the various PATENT OFFICE embodiment is instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, tion is not limited to and organization of herein set forth.

and the inventhe precise arrangement 6 these instrumentalities as Figure l is a perspective view of a. duplex container embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the boxes which form the container.

Figure 3 is a the container is formed.

plan view of a blank .from which Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which one box can be folded over on 15 the other.

Figure 5 is a package in its opened condition.

perspective view showing the Figure 6 is a perspective view showing one box closed and the other dition ready for being filled.

Similar numerals of reference sponding parts.

Referring to the drawing: Referring first to Figure 3, the

box in an opened conindicate correblank shown in this figure is formed from a single sheet of material and is provided on one side with the iongitudinally extending scored or I and 2, and with the transversely ened lines 3, 4, 5

weakened lines disposed weak- 6, l, and 8. The blank is provided on the opposite sides with the weakened lines 9, l0, and II. sides l2, [3, end members ing connected In this In I4, and 15 are pro by the flaps l8 and ner of providing the weakened lines the end folds 20 on the side 2| on the side l3, the end fol anner the box vided with the IS and I1, the sides [3 and M be- H). This manalso forms the end folds 22 on the side l4, and the end folds 23 on the side IS. The

foldable tabs 24 are formed at th e opposite sides of the member I 6 and the tabs 25 are formed at with the end folds 22, or vice V I7, all of these 26 and 21 so I have be all of these which has been ned by disconit can be conand disconnected ersa. The end 9, if desired, may be fold I2 is provided with the weakened lines 29 thereby forming a flap 30, and in a similar manner, is provided ened lines 3| thereby forming a the end fold IS,

with the weakflap 32 which each box are accessible for removal.

can be deflected outwardly which will be understood by reference to Figure 6.

For purpose of illustration I have shown the boxes as adapted to receive cigarettes 33 but it will, of course, be apparent that any desired material may be packed within the boxes.

After the boxes are sealed they are brough together with the flaps l8 and I9 folded together so that they are in longitudinal alignment, and a'wrapper 34 is then applied to the boxes to form a single duplex container, the wrapper being folded down and sealed at one side in any desired or conventional manner as at 35. The revenue stamp 36 also contributes to retain the boxes in assembled and closed condition and this is placed over the weakened line 31 of the wrapper which extends around per is also provided with the weakened lines 38 which are in proximity to the slits, such as 29 and 3!.

Assuming now that the duplex container is in the condition seen in Figure 1 with the wrapper applied to the two boxes, the user in opening the box takes hold of each box with his hands and bends it in opposite directions thereby separating the wrapper on the line 3! on opposite sides so that the box will open out asseen in Figure 5, for example. The flaps 3B and 32 may then be bent outwardly so that the contents of If the user desiresto give away half of the cigarettes, he can tear the container apart on the weakened line in so that two separate boxes containing cigarettes are provided.

If the cigarettes, or other articles in one box are used up, the package can be torn on the weakened line 6, for example, and the box consisting of the walls l6, i5, 22, and 23 can be discarded. The other box will then have the flaps I8 and i9, as will be understood by reference to Figure 2, so that the flap l9 can be pushed inside the box to lock it.

The two separate boxes can also be folded over, if desired, as shown in Figure 4. 1

The blank can be formed by any desired or conventional machine now in use and the wrapping can be done by the use of conventional wrapping machines so that special machinery is not necessary to manufacture the package. The blank is of substantially rectangular formation so that there is practically'no waste of material.

After the wrapper has been applied the open ends of the two boxes are closed by the'folds l8 and I9 so that the material in the two packages are separated and the open end of each box is closed. If the duplex container has been opened and the two boxes are folded upon each other, as shown in Figure 4, it will be apparent that the open ends of the boxes are closed by thefolds or flaps l8 and I9.

It will be apparent that sealed the juxtaposed edges of the folds l8 and Hare together so that they form a breaking edge on whichthe wrapper of the box can be initially broken.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and useful duplex container which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown .and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that this embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without the wrapper. .The wrapwhen the package is I 'tion or sacrificing as'a locking flap for the other box,

- boxes departing from the spirit or scope of the invenany of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1. In a duplex container, a single blank having weakened portions adapting it to be folded to form two open ended boxes permanently closed at their top, bottom, sides and one end with the open ends interconnected by two folds which close the open end of the boxes when brought together in alignment, said two foldshaving a weakened line for separating the container into two boxes with the two folds forming closures for their open ends, and a wrapper covering said 15 boxes and forming a flat package, said blank being rectangular throughout its length.

2. In a duplex container, a single blank hav ing weakened portions adapting it to be folded to form two open ended boxes permanently 20 closed at their top, bottom, sides and one end with the open ends interconnected by two folds which close the open end of the boxes when brought together in alignment, and awrapper covering said boxes and retaining them. in align- 25 ment, said wrapper having a transversely extending weakened line registering with said double folds when folded whereby whenthe wrapper is separated the open ends of the boxes will he uncovered and the articles therein accessible, said blank being rectangular throughout its length.

3. In a duplex container, a blank formed from a single sheet of material provided with weakened lines to enable it to be folded to form two boxes closed at the side and one end the top and the bottom and openat the opposite end with two folds connecting sides of the boxes, said two folds being adapted to be folded on each other to form closures for the open ends of the boxes, said blank being rectangular throughout its length.

4. In a duplex container, a blank formed from a single sheet of material provided with weakened lines to enable it to be folded to form two boxes closed at the side and one end the top and the bottom and open at the opposite end with two folds connecting sides of the boxes, said two folds being adapted to be folded on each other to form closures for the open ends of the boxes, one of said folds being adapted to be separated from the juxtaposed box whereby such fold serves said blank being rectangular throughout its length.

5. In aduplex container, a pair of open-ended having their side and end walls permanently connected having the. side wall of each box connected by a side wall of the other box by two connected folds which fold together to close the open ends of the boxes vwhen brought together in alignment, said boxes having their tops and bottoms permanently closed, and a ,wrapper surrounding said boxes adapted to be severed on the breaking edge formed by said two folded folds.

6. In' a duplex container, a pair of open ended boxes having their side and end walls permanently connected and also their tops and bottoms permanently closed having a side wall of each box connected by two folds havin a weakened line separating them, the sides of each box near its open ends having weakened lines to 79 form a flap, and a wrapper surrounding said boxes and having weakened lines in proximity to the weakened lines of the side-walls of the boxes and having a weakened line around it to provide for the separation of the wrapper on a breaking 75 edge formed by said two folds when folded together.

7. A duplex container, comprising a substantially rectangular blank having marginal longitudinally extending weakened lines at opposite sides to form side folds and securing tabs forjuxtaposed side folds with transverse weakened lines contributing to form progressively along the blank a top, side, and bottom fold of one container, a double fold, a bottom fold, side fold, and top fold of the second container, said containers having their inner open ends in alignment and closed by said double fold, and a wrapper surrounding said containers and adapted to be broken on a. breaking edge formed by said double folds when folded together, thereby protecting from crushing the articles in the containers. WILLIAM A. RDIGLER. 

